CSMFO Elections

Scott Catlett, CSMFO President-Elect & Finance Director/Treasurer for the City of Newport Beach

Each year, CSMFO holds an election to select the person who will be CSMFO’s President two years later and to add two members to the Board of Directors. Each member of the Board serves a three-year term, with the President-Elect serving a year in that capacity before ascending to President in their second year and finishing out their third year as Immediate Past-President. Presidents alternate between the north and south of the state each year, and one Board member each is selected annually from the north and the south. This year, Ernie Reyna, Finance Director for the City of Perris, and Will Fuentes, Finance Director for the City of Campbell, will be leaving the Board at the conclusion of their three-year terms. Steve Heide, Finance Director for the Chino Valley Fire District, will also be leaving the Board following his term as Immediate Past-President. I want to take a moment to thank them for their service to CSMFO. I know that they will remain involved in the CSMFO leadership in the years ahead in other capacities, continuing to devote their volunteer time to make this organization better each year.

The CSMFO election process has evolved over the years, with the most recent adjustments having been made just a few years ago to modify the composition of the Nominating Committee. The current process is prescribed in our by-laws in Article III, Section C. Key throughout CSMFO’s history has been a focus on nominating to the Board of Directors those volunteers who have devoted their time and energy to CSMFO in many capacities for a sustained period of time. The variety of opportunities to get involved in CSMFO – from chapters to standing committees to CalCities policy committees – provides a diversity of experiences from which members of the Board are drawn to guide CSMFO’s programs, policies, and direction for the future. This year, Marcus Pimentel as President appointed the members of the Nominating Committee as required by the by-laws. Marcus, Steve Heide, and I all served on the Nominating Committee per the by-laws, along with five CSMFO Past-Presidents selected by Marcus. This group of eight CSMFO members was charged with selecting a slate of nominees for the three open positions on the Board of Directors. As in recent years, the Committee chose to place a single person on the ballot for each position. It was a tough decision to select the best candidates as there are many capable and engaged members of the CSMFO leadership, but we believe that the best choices for this moment in CSMFO’s history were selected based on their experience in the CSMFO leadership and their passion for our organization.

Nominated for President-Elect this year is Rich Lee, Finance Director for the City of San Mateo. Representing the south on the Board of Directors, Stephanie Reimer has been nominated, Assistant General Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the Monte Vista Water District. From the north, the Committee has nominated Dennis Kauffman, Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the City of Roseville. All of the nominees have been volunteer leaders in CSMFO for nearly a decade or more, having served in the leadership of various committees and/or chapters, as well as in Rich’s case a term on the Board of Directors as a northern representative.

Recognizing that not all of you will view the candidate statements in the election materials, I would like to take a moment to introduce you to each of the candidates in their own words. I’ve asked them each to tell you about why they are running for the Board, what they see as the future for CSMFO, and how they plan to contribute to that future. First, let’s hear from Rich Lee.

Rich Lee:

“I am running for President-Elect because I believe in CSMFO, its vision, mission, and guiding values. I have been fortunate to have been a part of CSMFO leadership since 2015, serving our members in many capacities, including chapter chair, committee member, and board member. I would be honored to serve as President in 2023 and continue working with the dedicated volunteer leaders to be a part of the organization’s evolution in response to changes in the profession and ensure that we remain a valuable part of our members’ career development.

The future of CSMFO is bright, and is a direct reflection of the hard work of our volunteer leaders and the staff that support us. Since 2006, we have more than doubled the number of members, and the devoted members of CSMFO leadership have ensured that it provides current, timely, and valuable information to its members through informational webinars, local chapter meetings, training sessions, and of course, the annual conference.

The future of CSMFO, just like the future of our profession, is in the hands of our future leaders, who are now students. CSMFO has made great strides to engage students at local universities, and those efforts have manifested in CSMFO’s student membership increased more than three-fold since 2018. In addition to showing college students the path toward a career in local government finance, we have also provided valuable resources to our student members, including free membership, financial assistance to attend the annual conference, and opportunities for internships. As your President-Elect, I will continue to support the efforts of our Student Engagement Committee and look for additional ways for CSMFO to provide even more resources to the next generation.

I believe CSMFO’s future also includes the cohort groups that are currently being piloted. I see these cohorts as providing a significant resource to our members, regardless of how long they have been in the profession. One theme that has remained a constant throughout my time in CSMFO is that as a part of its mission for continuing education, we all learn from each other. As a part of the Program Committee for the past three years, it has been remarkable to witness the generous spirit of our members to share their expertise with their peers. As your President-Elect, I would support CSMFO in allocating resources to expand its cohort program, identify additional cohort leaders, and provide a venue for our members to connect, converse, and learn from one another.”

Next, let’s hear from Stephanie Reimer regarding her thoughts about CSMFO’s future.

Stephanie Reimer:

“CSMFO has been an incredible resource for me from the moment I joined nearly ten years ago. For several years I only participated through the listserv, using it as a resource for my job. Then I ventured out to a couple of local chapter meetings. Each time, getting to know new people got a little easier as more and more faces became familiar. Next, I started volunteering to help at chapter events; eventually making my way into the role of chapter chair. I was having so much fun volunteering that I joined a couple of committees and took a leadership position as vice-chair.

I get involved because I know that, for me, I am going to get out of it what I put in. Each step along the way, CSMFO has given me a path to grow professionally, make friends, and have fun. As a member of the Board, I am committed to working with the other Board Members to ensure the awesome legacy of CSMFO, built by previous volunteers, continues for future generations of municipal finance officers.”

And finally, Dennis Kauffman has shared his thoughts on the future of CSMFO.

Dennis Kauffman:

“After over fifteen years of membership in CSMFO, I am excited to be a candidate for this year’s Board of Directors. I want to serve on the Board to give back to the organization that has helped me throughout my career, and I feel a duty to serve so that the next generation of local government finance professionals benefits as I have from this incredible organization.

My goals for my CSMFO Board term include leading efforts to enhance the leadership and operations of CSMFO to prepare our successful organization for the future, supporting programs that provide professional development and networking opportunities for our members, including a California certification to supplement the GFOA’s CPFO certification, and continuing to broaden the membership base to share all that our organization has to offer with other agencies that don’t currently benefit from CSMFO. I also want to encourage more members to get involved in CSMFO committees to develop the organization’s leaders for the future. Thank you for considering me for your Board candidate for 2022.”

Notification that the voting for the election is open will be sent out via email by the CSMFO staff in the near future. While the slate has already been chosen, we encourage all members to vote to show their support for these outstanding candidates. While now you know the process for leaders being chosen for the Board and a little bit more about this year’s nominees, you might be wondering how you can become a leader in CSMFO. The answer is simple – anyone who shows interest can join the leadership. Whether it is through becoming more active in your chapter or joining one of CSMFO’s many committees, leaders grow organically once they’ve chosen to become involved. I got my start in leadership as a Chapter Chair and member of the Professional Standards Committee in 2010, moving on to chair several different committees and eventually to serve on the Board. I invite and encourage you to reach out to your chapter chair, or any of us on the Board of Directors if you would like to learn more about how to get involved in the CSMFO leadership. You can reach me directly at scatlett@newportbeachca.gov or 949-644-3126.

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Scott Catlett is the Finance Director and City Treasurer for the City of Newport Beach. Prior to joining Newport Beach, he was the Finance Director and City Treasurer for the City of Yorba Linda, and worked as an Assistant Finance Director, Principal Budget Analyst, and Budget & Debt Manager for the City of Riverside. Earlier in his career, he worked for several firms providing financial consulting services to state governments, municipalities, and large commercial airports. Scott has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Tulane University and a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, San Bernardino.

Scott serves CSMFO as the 2021 President Elect. He previously served a three-year term on the Board of Directors, and is a past Chair of the Administration Committee, Career Development Committee, Professional Standards and Recognition Committee, and Inland Empire Chapter.

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